Your Gorgeous HAIR

I turned 50 in Feb of 2020 and about 13 years ago I started reading about hair.

In my teens and early 20's I killed my hair with perms and hair dye. When I was about 24 I decided to never dye my hair again. I did use hair products (hair spray, gel, mousse) until my early 30's and then stopped those too. And what I found is that by doing less with my hair and changing my diet, my hair got healthier.

You see, I was also on a mission to delay graying hair for as long as possible as I'm a pretty low maintenance gal.

There is a lot of information in this blog, read it, and pick one simple shift you can do to move you closer to the best hair ever!!

Here is a list of some things I started to do (see more details as you read on about each point)... Click here for the video of what I do and the products I use

1. Added more whole foods to my diet because that's what my cells need to thrive. I started making green smoothies and added 30+ whole food pesticide free concentrates into my daily diet that you can check out here >> please ask me about kid's free

3.  Improved how I manage stress. As progesterone declines in peri/menopause, women become more stress reactive. Things that didn't bother you much in the past can now trigger a stress response. 

4.  Stopped dieting and restricting food. This puts a lot of stress on the body.

5.  Increased my intake of protein at each meal. The under-consumption of protein is one of the main nutrient deficiencies responsible for hair loss.

6.  Added more biotin rich foods to my diet. Here are a few suggestions >> Cauliflower, eggs with yolk, salmon, almonds, avocados, mushrooms, spinach, and dairy products (if tolerated) are all low carb foods (see tip #1) rich in biotin, a nutrient that is well known for increasing the thickness of hair follicles.

7.  Drank homemade bone broth (sorry Campbell’s you just don’t cut it). Bone broth is rich in collagen, another nutrient that is well known for improving hair growth (as well as skin and nails).

8. Found an amazing collagen supplement that made a difference pretty quickly, check it out here and save $10. 

​I read Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe, Aggressive Health by Mike Nash and many other books which is when I stumbled upon Ann Wigmore in this book I was reading about diet.

"Wigmore started drinking smoothies when she was in her 50s, and had a full head of gray hair. Soon, her hair reversed itself back to a natural brown color.

When she was in her 80s, her students cut a piece of her hair and sent it to the lab for analysis to prove that she was not dyeing it!
Wigmore claimed that gray hair is linked to mineral deficiencies, and when the body is able to boost its mineral reserves, the natural color returns." 

I didn't used to know that when my hair was not so great that it was a sign that I was not being properly nourished. I just tried to find the best shampoo/conditioner to get my hair to look gorgeous!

When our cells are undernourished , our body doesn't give much loving to our hair, skin and nails because it's trying to keep our organs & brain functioning properly. So when I started to clean up my diet, reduce my stress levels, add these supplements into my daily routine, reduce the toxins I was putting on my skin, my hair started to look HEALTHY, full and oh, so gorgeous!!

I also love listening to Bulletproof Radio with Dave Asprey (always has some interesting points of view and tips regarding health and longevity) and also read this article about slowing down graying hair. It has some excellent tips. 

In the spring of 2020, I was listening to a Simplicity Sessions podcast with Jenn Pike, listen here, as she interviews Nicole Scott about her journey with a breast scare due to her hair (Your Gorgeous Breasts - read here). Both of these ladies are part of the Juice Plus Canada team that I proudly am affiliated with as well. 

 

What Your Hair Says About Your Health

Our physical body is a manifestation of our internal body. That means our thoughts, emotions and the state of our organs and internal systems are what determines how the outside looks. 

Here are just a few common hair problems and what they are telling us about our health:

Thinning Hair- This usually means under-active thyroid.

Hair loss, dullness, dry ends, and slow-growing hair- Often a sign that the body is missing out on critical nutrients.

Dry scalp and dull hair- This could indicate an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. 

So here is a quick list of some things I started to do...

- added more whole foods to my diet because that's what my cells need to thrive

- added 30+ whole food pesticide free concentrates into my daily diet that you can check out here >> please ask me about kid's free

Antioxidants found from food sources (not multi's as they are not bioavailable)

Vitamins A and E nourish the skin and hair;

Vitamin E can stimulate hair growth and encourage circulation in the scalp and hair follicles, while Vitamin A can promote hair follicle stem cells.

Selenium and Vitamin C can prevent oxidative damage to our hair and may prevent hair ageing.

Food Sources: sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, dark leafy greens, almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado, berries, bell peppers, broccoli, citrus fruits, cauliflower, Brazil nuts, sardines, mushrooms, asparagus, Juice Plus+ vineyard, orchard and garden blend.

B Vitamins

B Vitamins support healthy hair by providing it with thickness and shine, as well as encouraging hair growth. Pay particular attention to Vitamin B6, B3, B5 and biotin, as these are especially helpful. Biotin can help strengthen hair and reduce hair loss, while B5 supports our adrenal glands - this improves our ability to cope with stress.

Food Sources: Dark leafy greens, gluten-free whole grains, sweet potatoes, legumes, fish, liver, eggs, Juice Plus+ vineyard, orchard and garden blend.

Zinc

Zinc can help prevent hair follicles from regressing, encourage hair follicle recovery and stimulate hair growth, while zinc deficiency can lead to hair loss. It plays an important role in the immune system as well, and a compromised immune system or autoimmune conditions can impact how healthy our hair is.

Food Sources: Pumpkin seeds, quinoa, lentils, turkey, sesame seeds, cashews, beef, mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, Juice Plus+ vineyard, orchard and garden blend.

Collagen

I continue to search for the best products for you and have tried many sources of Collagen.  This one definitely is making a difference for me. Liquid Bio Cell Pure Collagen from Modere.

Click here and save $10. and learn more about it.

Collagen is a protein in our bodies found in connective tissue, muscles, bones, skin, tendons, and throughout the digestive tract.  It serves to hold various parts of the body together and gives skin and organs their elasticity and flexibility. Our body produces collagen on its own, but production decreases with age, diets high in sugar, and exposure to chemicals, so supplementing with collagen is helpful for many people. 

Did you know that Powder Collagen takes 20-30 mins to break down before the body can even START to absorb it?! ⏳️💫 That's why I've switched to Modere - I noticed a difference very quickly!!!

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😍This Liquid Gold takes 1-4 minutes to absorb
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🍓18 phytonutrient-rich superfoods and ceramides
🌿13 phytonutrient-rich superfoods and resveratrol
🦾Improves joint mobility and lubrication
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👱🏼‍♀️Promotes health hair, nails, gums, and eyes
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If you want:
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✨Fuller lashes and brows
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✨Longer & stronger nails
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It’s time to upgrade your COLLAGEN GAME and get the results you want faster 👏🔥

Do you have??

➡️thinning hair
➡️joint and back pain
➡️saggy skin
➡️wrinkles
➡️weak nails

Give me 28 days! It’s just not comparable. 🔥

Click here and save $10. and learn more about it. 

 

- added plant based omegas such as these because they reduce 
inflammation and support the health of your thyroid, more information about omegas here.

Omega-3 fatty acids are highly anti-inflammatory, which is vital for supporting and preventing many conditions that can lead to hair loss. They can help thicken hair and prevent hair loss, as well as stimulate hair growth and nourish our skin. Fats also help to stabilize blood sugar levels, which in turn help balances hormone levels.

Food Sources: Flax, hemp, chia, walnuts, salmon, sardines, anchovies, Juice Plus+ Plant Based Omegas

 

- added more healthy fats into my diet like avocados and egg yolk and more here

- added whole food probiotics and probiotics because when your gut bacteria is not at its best you cannot manufacture biotin properly. See recommendations here

- added in Vitamin D which is a hormone and plays a pivotal role in immune system health and hormonal balance, it also stimulates new hair growth, check out more information here

- slowly shifted away from these (sugar, gmo's, alcohol)  in my diet as these foods weaken the digestive system and damage the inner ecosystem—preventing the optimal breakdown and assimilation of the essential nutrients that are needed for your beauty

Silica

Silicon is the third most abundant trace element in the human body. It can help make hair stronger and shinier, as well as stimulate hair growth. Hair with more silicon is less likely to fall out and will be brighter.

Food Sources: Carrots, green beans, brown rice, bananas, raisins (sulphite free), iceberg lettuce

- added in extra brushing of my hair with a natural hair brush from Living Libations. I also flip my hair upside down which induces better circulation and brush right from the roots. I will also use Scalp Tonic and Shampoo/Conditioner from Living Libations and Beauty Counter Hair Products

 

If you're ready to make a clean swap and start using skin care and makeup that is not only super high-performing and luxe, but also SAFER for us and our families, please send me a message or click this link to learn more, browse products and shop! Please ask me about free gift and free shipping.

 

 

 

Honey-Hair Mask
Ingredients

• ½ cup honey
• 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops rosemary essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Make It Like So

• Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass jar
• Apply 2-3 Tbsp of the mixture to wet hair. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Rinse out, shampoo and style as normal.

 

Harmful Ingredients in Hair Dye from Meghan Telpner

Dying your hair once isn't a big deal. But when you are colouring your hair to cover grey, the semi-permanents rarely do the trick and you're likely having your roots done every six to eight weeks. This means frequent exposure to an intense amount of chemicals that are making direct contact with your scalp and being inhaled beyond the 90-minute colouring treatment. You are likely inhaling those chemicals for days. You can smell it!

Over 5,000 different chemicals are used in hair dye products, some of which are reported to be carcinogenic. Chemicals in permanent hair dyes can also react with tobacco smoke and other pollutants in the air to form one of the most powerful cancer-causing compounds known to man.

In the dyes used at your salon or at home colour kits, you may find:

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which has been shown to damage genetic material and cause cancer in animals, along with cause allergic dermatitis.
Coal tar, a known carcinogen. 

Formaldehyde, a preservative linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity and more.
DMDM Hydantoin, a preservative that is a known immune system toxin (and has been restricted for use in cosmetics in Japan).

Ammonia, a chemical that helps hair better retain colour, can cause irritation of the scalp, skin, nose, throat, eyes and respiratory system. It also weakens and damages your hair, turning it weak and brittle.
Peroxide, a bleaching agent, can lead to skin irritation and skin burning, damages your hair, and in combination with other hair dye ingredients, may be linked to cancer.

Toluene-2,5-diamine can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation. Animal studies indicate it can also trigger pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses. A compromised immune system is one risk factor that may lead to cancerous processes in the body.

Potential Health Impacts of Hair Dyes

For the second year in a row, Princess Margaret Hospital the premier cancer research hospital in Canada, has done a fundraiser, Colour To Conquer, to encourage people to colour their hair to raise money for cancer research. Of all the dumb cancer fundraisers, this one is near the top of my list. Hair colour, as mentioned above, contains known and probable carcinogens.

While I support the efforts being made to find better treatments and improve outcomes, I am also in support of increased research into the causes and contributors to the dramatically rising risk of cancer.

Breast Cancer

A study of childhood hair product use showed that the endocrine-disrupting chemicals – also known as xenoestrogens –found in hair dyes can lead to early menarche (first menstruation), which increases the risk of breast cancer.

A review of studies between 1980 and 2017 found that hair dye users had an 18.8% higher risk of breast cancer than people who didn’t colour their hair.

As with a number of other beauty and personal care products, there is some scientific disagreement as to whether or not they are harmful. You will find many scientific studies that assert there isn’t a link between hair dyes and cancer, or that results are at best inconsistent and inconclusive. Some researchers suggest this is due to the studies themselves being inconsistent: “Published studies lacked complete information on timing, duration, frequency and type of hair dye product use, and this information is crucial to determining if intensity, total dose, type, and time period of hair dye use is most important in assessing risk.”

As I’ve discussed before, we are never dealing with these ingredients and chemicals in isolation. The combination of the compounds in personal care products, home cleaning products, makeup, bedding, water, plastics, clothing, toys, the food we eat, our cell phones and other technologies, and more all contribute to our toxic load. We never know what element is going to tip the scales, which is why I choose beauty and personal care products that are as chemical-free as much as possible, check this out.

Increase Risk of Multiple Cancers

Women using permanent hair dyes have a greater risk of developing non-fatal Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

In animal models, there is a proven link between hair dyes and cancer. Human links are not quite as conclusive, but there are indications that hair dyes are connected to several different types of cancers including non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, breast malignancies and bladder cancer.

Pregnancy-Related Risks

Hair dye use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of neuroblastoma (cancer of the nervous system) and brain tumors in children.

Colouring your hair on average is about $100, add that up for your yearly cost and put that towards healthy foods, Juice Plus+ and better, safer beauty products like Beautycounter. 

 

References: 

https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/going-grey/

https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/healthy-hair-tips/ 

 https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/hair-health-care-with-nicole-scott/id1437109535?i=1000473507510 

https://affiliates.livinglibations.com/aff_c?offer_id=1&aff_id=1074